Bolivia

Bolivia conducts feasibility studies for wind expansion

BOLIVIA: Bolivia is looking at expanding its wind capacity with feasibility studies in the south and east of the country while boosting its only project from 3MW to 24MW.

The Goldwind 1.5MW turbine has been adapted for high-altitude locations in China

It is also expanding Qollpana, Bolivia's first wind farm, to 24MW by the second half of 2015 with plans to add a further 25MW at a later stage. The project, developed by state-owned power company Corani, launched at the end of 2013 with the installation of two Goldwind 1.5MW turbines. The

The first extension will see the addition of 14 1.5MW turbines.

Currently, ENDE Corporation, the national electricity company of Bolivia, which owns Corani, manages the funding in addition to sourcing the turbines.

Speaking to Windpower Monthly, Corani head of wind projects Gerardo Borda anticipated that other wind projects are under consideration in different parts of the country. He said there is a feasibility study with wind measurement data in the east of the country, while another project is in the pre-feasibility stage in the south.

Borda added there is also a study on adding a third 25MW phase to Qollpana, pending on the outcome of the second stage. He was unable to confirm a turbines supplier for the added stages.